It Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Do you ever feel like everyone else has it all figured out but you?

Like the moms at school pickup who somehow look effortlessly put together, while you’re just hoping no one notices the coffee stain on your shirt. Or the people on Instagram who manage to balance work, workouts, family dinners, and even a spotless house—while you’re over here celebrating that you actually remembered to take the trash out on time.

It can feel like you’re the only one barely holding it together while everyone else is breezing through life. And underneath that feeling is the nagging thought:

It shouldn’t be this hard.

But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about—life is hard sometimes. Not because you’re doing it wrong, but because you’re human. What makes it feel even harder are the “shoulds” we pile on top:

• I should be more organized.

• I should be more patient.

• I should be further along by now.

• I should be able to handle this better.

And when we don’t meet those unrealistic standards, we add shame into the mix. We don’t just feel overwhelmed—we feel like there’s something wrong with us for feeling this way.

But you’re not broken. You’re not behind. You’re not the only one who feels this way.

Those polished, “put together” lives you see at work, at school, or online? They’re just the highlight reels. Behind the scenes, everyone else has their mess too. They just might not talk about it.

So what if instead of telling yourself “it shouldn’t be this hard,” you started asking:

What do I need right now to support myself?
What can I let go of that isn’t serving me?
What if being human means sometimes things are hard, and that’s okay?

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep showing up—imperfect, messy, real. Because that’s enough.

If you’ve been nodding along while reading this, you’re not alone. I work with so many people who feel the exact same way and I’ve been there too. If you’d like some support in sorting through the “shoulds” and learning how to give yourself a little more grace, I’d love to connect with you.

I’m now offering donation-based coaching sessions called Pay What You Can. I want this work to be within reach for anyone who needs it. You can find the details and book a session here.